Which is the larger of the world's two doubly landlocked countries?

Uzbekistan is the larger of the world’s two doubly landlocked countries. It covers about 448,978 square kilometres, while Liechtenstein occupies only about 160 square kilometres.

A doubly landlocked country is surrounded entirely by countries that are themselves landlocked, meaning reaching an ocean requires crossing at least two international borders. Uzbekistan is enclosed by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Liechtenstein is bordered by Austria and Switzerland.

Uzbekistan became the second doubly landlocked country when it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Liechtenstein’s status emerged after Austria became independent and landlocked following the First World War. A technical caveat concerns the Caspian Sea: if it is treated as a true sea rather than an inland lake, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have maritime access, complicating Uzbekistan’s classification. Standard geographic references nevertheless identify Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein as the two doubly landlocked countries.

Uzbekistan is also the world’s largest country with no coastline on an open ocean, although Kazakhstan is larger if Caspian Sea coastline is counted.